Declaration of assets by Public Servants under Lokpal:
Removal of Difficulties Order Notification by DoPT

MINISTRY
OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

(Department
of Personnel and Training)

ORDER

New
Delhi, the 26th December, 2014

S.O. 3272(E).- Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of
the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act),
made the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014
(hereinafter referred to as the said Order) with effect from the 15th February.
2014 for the purpose of carrying out modifications and amendments in all
existing rules regulating the filing of property returns and making of declaration
of assets by public servants so as to bring them in conformity with the
provisions of the said Act. within a period not exceeding one hundred and
eighty days from the date on which the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas
Act, 2013 came into force, i.e., the 16th January, 2014;

And whereas, the central Government initiated the process of
modifications and amendments of all existing rules dealing with the subject
matter of filing of annual returns and making of declaration of assets by
public servants in consultation with various authorities, such as, the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the Election Commission, the Lok
Sabha Secretariat, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the Ministry of Law and Justice
(Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department), the Department of
Financial Services, the Department of Public Enterprises and the State
Governments;

And whereas, the comments and suggestions received from above
said authorities had been under consideration of the Central Government and the
completion of the procedure of finalising the rules under the said Act was
likely to take some more time and the process of harmonisation of the existing
rules with the provisions of the said Act and the rules made thereunder was
taking time beyond the period notified under the said Order, and, therefore,
the Central Government amended the said Order on 14th July, 2014,
extending the said period of one hundred and eighty days to a period of two
hundred and seventy days;

And whereas, the Central Government, after consulting the
Ministries/Departments. including the Department of Financial Services, the
Department of Public Enterprises, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the
office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, made the Public Servants
(Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the
Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014 (hereinafter
referred to as the said rules), in exercise of the powers conferred by
sub-section (1) read with clause (k) and clause (l) of sub-section (2) of
section 59 read with section 44 and section 45 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas
Act, 2013, and notified the said rules on 14th July, 2014, prescribing therein
the forms in which information and annual returns are to be filed by every
public servant;

And whereas, the Central Government forwarded the Copies of the
notification containing the said rules to all Ministries and Departments of the
Central Government requesting them to take the follow-up action in terms of the
said rules. and for ensuring compliance with the said rules by all officers and
staff in the respective Ministries, Departments and organisations and public
sector undertakings under their control;

And whereas. the Central Government also forwarded the copies of
the notification containing the said rules to the Chief Secretaries of all
State Governments and Union territories, requesting them to take the follow-up
action in terms of the said rules requiring all officers of the All India
Services working in connection with the affairs of the State Governments and
the officers and staff working in various organisations and public sector
undertakings under their control so as to ensure due compliance with the said
rules by all of them;

And whereas, concerns and apprehensions were raised by some
Ministries and Departments, Organisations and individuals about the posting of
every information provided by the public servant on public domain and the
complexities involved in posting such details in the prescribed formats and
also about exacerbation of vulnerabilities of the public servants after filing
such details. specifically of movable property and their publication on the
websites of respective Ministries and Departments giving rise to the
apprehension of the safety and security of the members particularly children of
the public servant;

And whereas, keeping in view the genuine concerns and
apprehensions aforesaid, the Central Government constituted a Committee on 28th
August, 2014 to simplify the forms and the process in which public servants
shall make declaration of assets and liabilities as required under the said Act
and the rules made thereunder and the Committee was required to examine the
forms prescribed under the said rules and suggest changes therein as may be
considered necessary within a period of forty-five days;

And whereas, the exercise of reviewing the existing rules
relating to various services and posts with the provisions of the said Act and
the rules made thereunder, the process of completion of follow-up action by
various Ministries and Departments of the Central Government and the State
Governments and the exercise of simplification of forms and the process in
which public servants shall make declarations of assets and liabilities, was
likely to take time beyond the period of two hundred and seventy days as
specified in the said Order (as amended by the Order, dated 14th July, 2014),
it had become necessary to extend the said period of two hundred and seventy
days and, accordingly, the Central Government amended the said Order on 8th
September, 2014. extending the said period of two hundred and seventy days to a
period of three hundred and sixty days for the purposes of section 44 of the
said Act;

And whereas, the Committee constituted by the Central Government
on 28th August, 2014 to simplify the farms and the process in which public
servants shall make declaration of assets and liabilities as required under the
said Act and the rules made thereunder, submitted its first Report to the
Government on 1st October, 2014, wherein the Committee suggested simplification
of form prescribed for submission of statement regarding movable assets and the
form prescribed for submission of statement regarding debts and liabilities by
public servants, under the aforesaid rules;

And whereas, the processing of necessary amendments to the
aforesaid rules so as to incorporate the revised forms for filing statement
regarding movable properties and the statement regarding debts and liabilities
and the circulation of the revised formats, after their due notification in the
Official Gazette, to all Ministries and Departments of the Central Government
and the Chief Secretaries of all State Governments and Union territory administrations
and the further process of follow-up action in terms of the said rules
requiring all officers of the All India Services working in a connection with
the affairs of the State Governments and the Offices and Staff working in
various Organisations and Public Sector Undertakings under their control so as
to ensure due compliance with the revised rules by all of them, is a time
consuming process and as such the said process cannot be completed within the
limit of three hundred and sixty days as contemplated in the principal order as
amended by the order dated 8th September, 2014;

And whereas, Central Government has decided to amend the Lokpal
and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to address various deficiencies noticed in the said
Act and, in that context, a need has also been felt to amend the provisions of
section 44 of the said Act so as to harmonise the provisions of the said
section with the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act,
1951 and rules framed thereunder, the All India Services Act, 1951 and rules
framed thereunder, the rules framed by the Central Government in pursuance of
article 148 and article 309 of the Constitution and also various statutes
setting up autonomous bodies and Public Sector Undertakings and the rules framed
thereunder;

And whereas, the introduction of a Bill to amend the Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act, 2013, and its passing by Parliament and enforcement is also
likely to take time; and hence it has become necessary to extend the said
period of three hundred and sixty days to a period of eighteen months and the
Central Government has accordingly decided to extend the period to complete
this process;

New. therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by
sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (l of
2014). the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment further to
amend the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014, namely-

In the said Order, in paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), for the
words �within a period not exceeding three hundred and sixty days�, the
words �within a period not exceeding eighteen months� shall
be substituted.

A delegation of FNPO leaders
under the leadership of Sri. T V Chandramohan, Ex - MLA, Chairman FNPO Thrissur
District Committee and Johnson Avokkaran, met the Hon'ble Minister at Guruvayur
and submitted a memorandum regarding Circle Level and local Issues. The
minister was kind enough to have a fruitful discussion.

Demands consisted:

1)Protection of TRCA of GDS.2)Filling up of vacant posts in all cadres including that of CPMG and
DPS NR.3)To effect relaxation recruitments in all cadres in the Circle without
delay.4)To keep in abeyance the hasty decision of the Circle administration to
set up Post Shoppies in the Circle.5)Allot funds for building Kunnamkulam HO Building.6)Allot funds for repairs of Staff quarters at Poothole, Thrissur
Division.

The delegation
consisted V K Mohanan(D/S NUGDS) and C J Wilson(Divisional Vice president, P4).
Minister agreed to do all possible help on the demands.

With reference to the
above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to state that the situation
arising out of issue of Office Memorandum No 2/2014/CGHS(HQ)/PPTY / CGHS(P)
dated the 25th August ,2014 has been engaging the attention of Government for
quite some time. Various representations about the difficulties being
encountered have been received from different stakeholders i.e., beneficiaries
and doctors, necessitating a review of the matter. It was accordingly
considered by a Committee under the Chairmanship of AS&DG,CGHS. After
careful review and keeping the recommendations of the Committee in mind, the
following guidelines are issued to streamline the functioning of the Wellness
Centres:

i. The medicines are
to be issued as per the CGHS Formulary and guidelines issued by this Ministry
in this behalf.

ii. In case the
prescribed medicines are not available in CGHS formulary, but are essential for
the treatment of the patient, they can be issued / indented by the doctors of
the CGHS Wellness Centre on the basis of a valid prescription of the authorized
specialist subject to the condition that such medicines are neither dietary
supplements/ food items nor banned drugs. Instructions on this issue i.e.,
non-admissibility of food items etc. issued vide O.M .No.
39-3/2003-04/CGHS/MSD/RS dated 23rd July 2009 and 3rd August 2009 must be
followed.

iii. In case of
anti-cancer drugs and other life-saving drugs that are not approved by the DCG1
for use in India, each case should be considered by the Expert Committee under
the Chairmanship of Special DG(DGHS).

iv. The technical
Standing Committee constituted vide 2-2/2014/CGHS(HQ)/PPTY / CGHS(P) dated 27.08.2014
of this Ministry will review addition or deletion of drugs in the CGHS
Formulary/ list of Treatment procedures / investigations / listed implants. The
Technical Committee will meet once in three months or as per need, whichever is
earlier. In the meantime reimbursement for unlisted procedures / implants will
be made at the rates approved by AIIMS/GB Pant Hospital / actuals, whichever is
less.

2. The O.M. of even
number dated 25.08.2014 is superseded to the above extent while O.M. of even
number dated 1.10.2014 is withdrawn.

Sd/-

(Bindu
Tiwari)
Director, CGHS(P)
(Tel 2306 1831)

Change
in date of birth/age of family pensioners for payment of additional pension

No.
1(11)/2009-D (Pen/Pol)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
New Delhi 110011

Dated
: 23rd December 2014

To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff

Subject : Change in date of birth/age of
family pensioners for payment of additional pension.

Sir,
In accordance with the instructions issued vide GOI, MOD letter no.
17(4)/2008(1)-D (Pen/Policy) dated 11.11.2008 and GOI, MOD letter No.
1(11)/2009-D (Pen/Policy) dated 18th Aug 2009, additional pension/ family
pension is allowed on the basis of the date of birth/age recorded in the
Pension Payment Order/Discharge Certificate or other office records. Only in
cases where the details regarding date of birth/age are not available in the
PPO/Discharge Certificate or Office records, additional pension/family pension
to old pensioners/family pensioners has been allowed on the basis of following
documents �

2. Some
representations have been received in the MOD regarding the hardship being
caused to old family pensioners in getting the additional pension on account of
incorrect recording of the date of birth/age in the PPO. They have been
requesting for allowing the change of date of birth in the PPO on the basis of
the documents prescribed in Para 1 above. The matter has been examined in the
Ministry and (after issue of Deptt. Of P & PW OM No. 1/23/2012 P&PW (E)
dated 13.09.2012) following decisions have been taken :-

(i) Since the date of
birth/age of the armed forces personnel is recorded in the PPO on the basis of
service records and the date of discharge/retirement/superannuation etc is
determined on the basis of this date of birth/age there would be no question of
allowing change in the date of birth/age of the retired/deceased pensioner in
the PPO. The matter has been examined further. Considering the difficulty in
producing any of the above mentioned documents as proof of age by the old
pensioners. It has now been decided that the Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI may
also be accepted as proof of date of birth/age for payment of additional
pension/family pension on completion of 80 years of age or above.

(ii) The request for
change of date of birth/age of the family pensioner (Parents and Spouse) in the
PPO may be submitted by the armed forces pensioner/family pensioner, to the
concerned Record Office in case of JCO/Ors and, service HQrs in case of
Commissioned Officers along with at least one of the documents mentioned in
Para I above/Aadhaar Card and declaration on a non-judicial stamp paper
regarding the correct date of birth of the family pensioner. If the Head of the
Department/Record Office is satisfied then the change in the date of birth of
the family pensioner may be allowed provided a bona-fide mistake has been made
in recording the date of birth in the PPO. As the entry in the PPO needs to be
rectified, it would be carried out by PSA by issuing the Corr PPO on the advice
of OIC Records/Head of Office.

(iii) No other
document except as indicated in Para 1 above and Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI
will be accepted for change in date of birth/age of the family pensioner in the
PPO.

3. In order to avoid
any possibility of recording an incorrect date of birth in the PPO, in future
the Armed Forces Personnel would be required to submit one of the documents
indicated / in Para 1 above or Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI as proof of date of
birth of spouse or parents along with the details of family as indicated in
service records of service officer / personnel. In the case of children,
certificate of birth from the Municipal authorities or from the local Panchayat
or from the head of a recognized school if he/she is studying in such a school or
from a Board of Education may be accepted as proof of age.

4. This issues with the concurrence of
Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their ID No. 31(7)/09/FIN/PEN dated
21/11/2014.

Yours
faithfully,

(Prem
Prakash)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

27-12-2014

Minutes of
the JCM, Departmental Council (DC) Meeting held on 16/12/2014

Online marketplace Snapdeal has partnered India Post to
jointly work on bringing thousands of weavers and artisans from Varanasi
through its website.

Snapdeal has launched a pilot with India Post to set up
facilitation desks at Varanasi post offices to enable local weavers to sell on
its platform. “This is an endeavour by Snapdeal and India Post to empower local
artisans, small and medium entrepreneurs to sustain their livelihood by
providing a platform to popularise their indigenous products,” Snapdeal CEO and
co-founder Kunal Bahl told PTI. Through this association, weavers will be able
to access the national audience by listing their products on Snapdeal at
negligible cost, he added. — PTI

Lokpal: Babus get four more months to
file info on assets

Central government employees have
got four more months, till April next year, to file details of their assets and
liabilities under the Lokpal rules.

The forms for providing such declarations are also being revised by the Centre.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) today extended the date, from
this month-end, to April 30, 2015 for filing the property returns.

The formats for submission of statement regarding movable properties and for
submission of statement regarding debts and liabilities are also being revised
and will be notified, it said in an order.

The move comes following concerns raised by some bureaucrats regarding putting
details of their assets and liabilities, including that of their family
members, in public domain.

The DoPT has also formed a committee to look into the babus' concerns. The
committee has submitted its first report, recommending simplified formats for
declaration of movable property, debts and other liabilities.

The DoPT had in September notified the Public Servants (Furnishing of
Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for
Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2014, extending the
date for the filing of returns to December 31.

As per the rules, every public servant shall file the returns of his assets and
liabilities, including that of his spouse and dependent family members, on
March 31 every year on or before July 31 of that year.

For the current year, the last date for filing these returns was September 15,
which was later extended to December-end and now till April 30, 2015.

The declarations under the Lokpal Act are in addition to similar ones filed by
the employees under various services rules.

All Group A, B, and C employees are supposed to file a declaration under the
new rules. There are about 26,29, 913 employees in these three categories, as
per the government's latest data.

The existing form for filing this return has fields for mentioning details of
cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units
in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal
loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.

The employees need to declare motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold
and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent
children.

The DoPT has asked all central government ministries, departments and cadre
controlling authorities to issue necessary order for their respective employees
to ensure compliance of its order

25.12.2014INCENTIVE TO THE STAFF PERFORMING IMTS TRANSACTIONS IN POST OFFICES.

24/12/20141.Give “New Year Gift” to citizens by permitting and publicising the use of
ordinary Postal Stamps for payment of RTI fee: CIC’s recommendation to
Department of Personnel and Training

Central Information Commissioner Prof. M. Sridhar
Acharyulu has strongly recommended the use of postal stamps as RTI application
fee. While disposing off a petition, he observed, “The Commission strongly
recommends Department of Personnel and Training to adopt the one year old
proposal of the Department of Posts, which is very user-friendly and avail the
opportunity of giving New Year Gift to the citizen by permitting and publicising
the use of ordinary Postal Stamps for payment of RTI fee, as this would go a
long way in setting out the practical regime of right to information for
citizens to secure access to information. Accepting postal stamps for RTI
fee would resolve many difficulties in payment, besides preventing wastage of
public money in returning or rejecting the IPOs or spending much larger amounts
than Rs 10, for realizing Rs 10, and avoidable litigation.”

The Complainant, Shri Raghubir Singh is a senior
citizen of 75-years old and a law teacher who is associated with the making of
the RTI Act before its enactment by the Government. The Commission
heard him on the telephone as desired by him.

The complainant complained that the Directorate
of Education has harassed him by raising meaningless technical issues.
They had returned the Indian Postal Order of Rs.10/- saying that it is not
properly drawn, when he claims to have rightly drawn in favour of the Accounts
Officer. The Complainant objected to the returning of the Postal Order by
PIO by speed post, for which he had to spend more than Rs.25/-. He
complained that the Directorate has not updated its web-site and appropriate
address against whom the Postal Order should be drawn or fee to be paid was not
given.

The complaint was filed against the Directorate
of Education had demanded information on 2 points: i) Which of the Government
Secondary Schools in Delhi under the Directorate of Education, have
introduced Punjabi teaching as a third language for the first time afresh in
class VI in the academic year 2010-2014; ii) the number of such students
enrolled in Class VI, School-wise.

The Commission hence directed the PIOs to check
up whether every school has properly replied to the RTI application, if not
fulfil the deficiencies. The Commisison also directed them to contact the
Complainant on the telephone number given by him, and provide the complete
information within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order.

The Commission referred to its earlier decision
in S.C. Aggarwal vs. Ministry of Home Affairswherein it had issued
several directions. It had directed that,“no instrument shall be returned
by any officer of the public authority on the ground that it has not been drawn
in the name of a particular officer. So long as the instrument has been drawn
in favour of the Accounts Officer, it shall be accepted in all circumstances” among
several others.

These directions were mandatory and the
Commission observed that non-compliance would lead to penalty proceedings. It
observed, “The Commission finds it is a misuse of the power of PIO to
reject to receive RTI application and the fee amounting to harassment of the
applicant. It is also a kind of denial of information. Any kind of delay in
furnishing of information on such grounds, violates the letter and spirit of
RTI Act on several counts.”

In another second appeal by Mr. R.K. Jain as
decided on 5th December, the CPIO of Department of Posts told the Commission
that their department has given a proposal to DoPT vide letter dated 31.1.2014
suggesting that ordinary postal stamps could be used for payment of RTI fee.

The respondents, their PIOs and incharge officers
were directed to update their official website immediately and send a
compliance reprt to the Commission with a copy to the Complainant within 10
days from the date of receipt of the order. All the PIOs of

Directorate of Education and all other officers
concerned were directed to accept the IPO without raising technical objections
and follow all the directions issued by the full bench order of CIC.

They were asked to submit separate reports to the
Commission explaining how many IPOs they have rejected so far and what are the
grounds of rejection, from January 2014 to December 10, 2014, within 15 days
from the date of reciept of the order.

A show cause notice was issued to the PIO who
refused and returned the IPO of appellant as to why maximum penalty cannot be
imposed against him for acting against the spirit of RTI and harassing the
applicant and for not updating the official website.

23/12/2014

How to Join CGHS after Retirement

The central Government
Employees those who are on the verge of Retirement are having many
doubts about joining CGHS after retirement. Many queries have been
raised by our viewers about registering with CGHS and availing the CGHS
facility after retirement. Hence the details of joining CGHS and
entitlement for availing treatments and its benefits, list of empanelled
Hospitals are compiled and given under for viewer’s reference.

Medical Benefits for Retirees

All Central
Government pensioners/family pensioners who were eligible for taking
treatment under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) while in
service are eligible for availing CGHS facilities after retirement,
irrespective of whether they were or were not availing CGHS facilities
while in service. Further, it is not necessary that these pensioners /
family pensioners should be living in the areas covered under the CGHS.

The pensioners / family pensioners have to get their names
registered with any of the CGHS dispensaries after submitting an
application in the prescribed proforma for the issue of a CGHS identity
card.Procedure to Register with CGHS

1. One can get a CGHS card made from the office of AD / JD of the City.

2. Forms can be downloaded from CGHS Website or can be taken from office of AD / JD of city.

3. Documents required

i. Application in prescribed format

ii. Proof of Residenceroof of Stay of dependents

iii. Proof of age of son

iv. Disability certificate, if any in case of sons aged 25 & above, who would otherwise cease to be a beneficiary.

v. Photos of eligible family members

vi. Surrender Certificate of CGHS Card while in service ( only in those cases where CGHS Card was issued while in service)

vii. Attested copies of PPO & Last Pay Certificate

viii. Draft for
required amount towards CGHS contribution – in the name of ‘P.A.O., CGHS
New Delhi’ in Delhi-and in the name of ‘AD, CGHS of the city’.

ix. In case PPO is not ready for any reason there is option to get a provisional card on the basis of Last Pay Certificate.

x. The data is
entered through computers and entered in data base and a printout is
issued same day for immediate use. Plastic cards are subsequently sent
to the residence of the card holder by post22/12/2014BEDU : Not Recognized - No Trade Union Facilities - Department clarified to our RTI.

Can’t recover excess salary paid to class III, IV staff: SC

y.

NEW
DELHI: Recovery of excess amount paid to Class-III and Class-IV
employees due to employer's mistake is not permissible in law, the
Supreme Court has ruled saying that it would cause extremely harsh
consequences to them who are totally dependent on their wages to run
their family.

The apex court said employees of lower
rung service spend their entire earning in the upkeep and welfare of
their family, and if such excess payment is allowed to be recovered from
them, it would cause them far more hardship, than the reciprocal gains
to the employer.

A bench of JS Khehar and Arun Mishra also
directed that an employer cannot recover excess amount in case of a
retired employee or one who is to retire within one year and where
recovery process is initiated five years after excess payment.

Since assuming charge of Secretary(Staff Side),
National Council(JCM), I have repeatedly demanded to convene a meeting of the
National Council(JCM). It is, however, regretful to point out that, despite all
out efforts made by me and requesting you in person to hold the meeting, no
meeting of the NC/JCM has been convened till date.

It may be appreciated the Joint Consultative
Machinery(JCM) at the National level, conceived as an effective Negotiating
Forum, has virtually become defunct as no meeting of this forum has been held
during the last four years, with the result that, a number of major grievances
of the Central Government employees continue to remain unresolved, because of
which they are badly agitated.

The procrastinated discussions in the National
Anomaly Committee did not proceed to settle any tangible anomaly item. Even
after reaching agreement, the government has refused to issue orders on some
issues. This apart, the demands raised by the Staff Side for grant of Interim
Relief and Merger of DA with Pay have been refused by the government. One of
the vital segments of the Central Government Employees, i.e. Grameen Dak Sewaks
of the Postal Department, are kept outside the ambit of the 7th CPC. Unilateral
decisions were taken to induct FDI in the Railways, Privatize the Railway and
Defence Production Units; closure of the Printing Presses, Publication and
Stationery Departments; contractorise the medical store functions; corporatize
the Postal Organization and outsource various governmental functions.

Under these circumstances, all the constituents
of the National Council(JCM)(Staff Side) had to hold a “National Convention” on
11th December, 2014 in New Delhi, wherein after detailed deliberations and
taking stock of the situation, a detailed programme of struggle has been
chalked-out. In case there is no positive response from the Official Side, it
will ultimately lead to indefinite strike.

A copy of the Declaration of the above-mentioned
Convention is enclosed herewith, which is self-explanatory.

We do fervently hope that negotiation is possible
even at this late stage and would therefore urge upon you to take concrete
steps in that direction. We also hope that you will be able to appreciate that
any decision of the government which affects the job security of the employees
adversely need to be discussed and agreement reached at the JCM Forum.

I would, therefore, request you to personally
intervene in the matter, being the Chairman of the National Council(JCM), so as
to avoid serious unrest and disturbance to industrial peace in the Central
Government Services and hold discussions with the Staff Side, NC/JCM on these
vital issues at your earliest.

(a) whether under the new policy and rules of Government, train passengers are
being looted by charging higher fares in the name of premium Tatkal tickets,
whereas several trains are running with vacant seats; and
(b) if so, the reasons for such kind of injustice with passengers?

ANSWER

MINISTER
OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)&(b): In order to
improve the earnings from passenger services, w.e.f. 01.10.2014, in some of the
selected trains by Zonal Railways which are most in demand, 50% of the existing
accommodation under Tatkal Quota has been earmarked as Premium Tatkal Quota and
is being booked on dynamic pricing.
This is a distance-slab based fare scheme where the fare increases by 20% after
each slab of 10% berths are sold subject to a cap (maximum fare chargeable).

Tatkal is a facility over and above the normal booking of reserved
seats/berths.

20/12/2014

Alteration
of date of birth of Government Employees – Instructions issued by
DOPT

F.No.19017/1/2014-Estt
(A-IV)

Government
of India

Ministry
of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department
of Personnel and Training

North
Block, New Delhi-110 001

Dated :
16th December, 2014

OFFICE
MEMORANDUM

Subject : Alteration of date of
birth of a Government Servant — reiteration of the instructions.

Rule 56 of Fundamental Rules states
that except as otherwise provided in the rule, every Government
servant will retire from service on the afternoon of the last day of the month
in which he attains the age of sixty years.

Provided that a Government servant
whose date of birth is the first of a month shall retire from service
on the afternoon of the last day of the preceding month on attaining the age of
sixty years.

2. As per Note 6 below the
aforesaid Rule, the date of on which a Government servant attains the age of
fifty-eight years or sixty years, as the case may be, shall be determined with
reference to the date of birth declared by the Government servant at the time
of appointment and accepted by the Appropriate Authority on production, as far
as possible, of confirmatory documentary evidence such as
High School or Higher Secondary or Secondary School Certificate or
extracts from Birth Register. The date of birth so declared by the Government
servant and accepted by the Appropriate Authority shall not be subject to any
alteration except as specified in this note. An alteration of date of birth of
a Government servant can be made, with the sanction of a Ministry or Department
of the Central Government, or the Comptroller and Auditor-General in regard to
persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, or an
Administrator of a Union Territory under which the Government servant is
serving, if —

(a) a request in this regard is made
within five years of his entry into Government service;

(b) it is clearly established that a
genuine bona fide mistake has occurred; and

(c) the date of birth so altered
would not make him ineligible to appear in any School or University
of Union Public Service Commission examination in which he had appeared, or for
entry into Government service on the date on which he first appeared at such
examination or on the date on which he entered Government service.

“Inordinate and unexplained delay or
laches on the part of the respondent to seek the
necessary correction would in any case have justified the refusal of
relief to him. His inaction for all this period of about thirty five years from
the date of joining service, therefore precludes him from showing that the
entry of his date of birth in service record was not correct”.

The observations of the Apex Court
was also circulated to all Ministries and Departments of the Government of
India vide OM No.19017/2/92-Estt.(A) dated 19-5-1993.

4. All the Ministries and
Departments are requested to keep the above in view while processing cases of
requests for changes of date of birth.